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Olivier Giroud has revealed Arsenal’s first team players have been impressed with Unai Emery’s work since he succeeded Arsene Wenger, but insists the Spaniard’s team are no better than his predecessor’s. The France World Cup winner swapped north for west London in January having been deemed surplus to requirements following the arrivals of Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerik Aubameyang. Giroud has been keeping a watchful eye on his old team ahead of Saturday’s crunch Premier League fixture and was seen hanging out with former teammate Hector Bellerin earlier this week.

‘I think Emery has settled well in the club, the players like him, the way they are training, his philosophy of the game,’ Giroud told ESPN. ‘I spoke with some of them and they are quite happy, but you don’t forget what Arsene Wenger achieved in this club. ‘He basically built this club – if you take the different teams that used to train under Wenger, there were some unbelievable teams. ‘We need to be patient with Emery and I think he will do very well at Arsenal. I’m not sure they’re better than before [yet], but one thing for sure is they’ve got a nice future.’